While businesses are beginning to reopen in many areas of the country, there’s no doubt this summer will still be drastically different from summers of yore. You’ll probably be spending more time at home with your family this year, which guarantees one thing: Your kids are going to be bored.
If you want to squash that boredom before it even starts — and make sure the kids’ brains are sharp for heading back to school in the fall — Barnes & Noble is offering a program that will motivate them to read and help them earn a free book.
The Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program for kids in grades 1-6 is free and simple — just print this Summer Reading Journal and have your kids read any eight books they want and write about them in the journal. Be sure they write about their favorite part of the book, including an explanation on why it was their favorite.
Once kids complete the journal, just take it to any Barnes & Noble bookstore between July 1 and Aug. 31 and they’ll be allowed to pick out one free book. Titles are divided by grade (1 and 2, 3 and 4, and 5 and 6), but there are at least a dozen to choose from at each reading level.
A few of the titles include “Malala: My Story of Standing Up for Girls’ Rights”, “A Wrinkle in Time” and an ’80s and ’90s favorite, “Ramona Quimby, Age 8.”
Pizza Hut is also offering a summer reading program, but instead of a free book, your child can earn free pizza!
All you have to do for your child to be enrolled in the pizza chain’s Camp Book It program is keep track of your kids’ reading for June, July and August on their website. The goal is automatically set to 20 minutes a day, five days a week, but you can extend it if your child reads more.
Any type of reading counts, including printed books, magazines and e-books. When your child meets their monthly reading goal, they’ll receive a virtual badge and a free one-topping Personal Pan Pizza.
Will your children be participating in a summer reading program this year?
This story originally appeared on Don't Waste Your Money. Checkout Don't Waste Your Money for product reviews and other great ideas to save and make money.
